Vertical Lumbar Stretching Machine and Method

ABSTRACT

A machine and method for conditioning and strengthening the human frame, and particularly the lumbar muscles of the lower back and pelvic region. The user-controlled machine has a single restraint strap which wraps around the user&#39;s pelvic region and connects to both sides of a support structure. The single restraint strap may be positioned high or low about the user&#39;s pelvic region while the user faces forward, backward, or sideways relative to the support structure. The user causes the single restraint strap to be drawn tightly about the pelvic region, thereby restraining the pelvic region against the support structure. This isolates the lumbar muscles and permits the user to conduct specific lumbar muscle conditioning and strengthening exercises while remaining in an upright position.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon provisional application 60/880,338, filedon Jan. 12, 2007, the priority of which is claimed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a device or machine for stretching,exercising, and strengthening the human body. Specifically, theinvention relates to a device or machine for exercising andstrengthening the lumbar muscles while remaining in an upright position.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Weakness of the back muscles, and particularly the lumbar muscles, whichare responsible for proper posture, may lead to increasing muscleweakness and even muscle atrophy over time. In order to maintain theirstrength and conditioning, the lumbar muscles must be exercised throughstretching and conditioning.

Prior art devices for stretching and strengthening the human frame,including the lumbar muscles of the lower back, have included numerousmedical and non-medical mechanical devices. These mechanical devicesinclude both motorized and non-motorized movement, and employ weightstacks, plyometric resistance and/or gravity to accomplish the goal ofstretching, flexing, or strengthening the human frame. Purely medicaldevices have included over-the-door and power-controlled tractiondevices, among others, arranged and designed to decompress the spine.Non-medical devices have typically included gym-type stretchingequipment including, but not limited to, gravity balls and Pilatesmachines, arranged and designed to improve flexibility and range ofjoint motion. However, Pilates equipment, MedX exercise equipment, andother fitness-oriented exercise and stretching units are oftenuncomfortable, cumbersome, and/or difficult to operate. Furthermore,fitness-oriented exercise and stretching units are not necessarilydirected at strengthening and conditioning the user's lumbar muscles.

Among the more common types of prior art devices for stretching andconditioning the human frame are “inversion” devices which operate byinverting the human body. These inversion devices suspend the user in anupside down position by the ankles or knees so that the spine andassociated structures that produce vertical pressure while upright canbe unloaded and stretched. While inverted, the user may also twist,bend, and otherwise stretch and exercise muscles along the torso,including the lumbar muscles. However, a major drawback of theseinversion devices and their method of operation is that the user'scardiovascular system must operate in an abnormal state thus potentiallycausing the user to feel ill effects from the inversion. Furthermore,typical inversion devices provide little, if any, of the proper backsupport needed to isolate and safely strengthen and condition the user'slumbar muscles.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,656,098 and 6,749,548 issued to Hoffman disclose arestraint and exercise device comprising a restraint, e.g. two straps,connected to a support structure. The straps help to restrain a portionof a person's body, such as the pelvic region, in a substantiallypain-free position so as to reduce the pain that would otherwise be feltduring exercise. A ratchet mechanism is used to adjust the tension inthe two-strap restraint. However, for a user in pain, mechanical selfadjustment of a non-actuated, two-strap restraint can prove difficult,if not impossible.

3. Identification of Objects of the Invention

An object of the invention is to accomplish one or more of thefollowing:

Provide a machine that limits or restrains the movement of the user'spelvic region thereby isolating the lumbar muscles of the lower back forexercise by the user;

Provide a machine, operable by the user without assistance, that limitsor restrains the movement of the user's pelvic region while permittingexercise of the torso; and

Provide a machine that limits or restrains the movement of the user'spelvic region without twisting or otherwise radially moving the user'storso.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will beapparent to one skilled in the art from the following specification anddrawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exercise machine and method are disclosed for stretching andstrengthening the human body, particularly the lumbar muscles of thelower back, to enhance postural balance. In the upright position, themovement of the lumbar muscles (i.e., the muscles supporting the lumbarvertebrae) results in simultaneous movement of the pelvis. Toeffectively exercise the lumbar muscles, they must be isolated by adevice or machine which limits or restrains movement of the pelvis. Theuser-controlled machine limits or restrains movement of the pelvis usinga single restraint strap that wraps around the user's pelvic region andconnects to the support structure. The single restraint strap may bepositioned high or low about the user's pelvic region while the userfaces forward or backward relative to the support structure. The machinepreferably has a user-controlled, powered actuator which draws thesingle restraint strap tight around the user's pelvic region therebyrestraining the user's pelvic region against the support structure. Thisisolates the lumbar muscles and permits the user to conduct specificlumbar muscle conditioning and strengthening exercises while remainingin an upright position. Thus, the exercise machine enables quick,simple, and safe operation but also permits the user, without the aid ofanother, to isolate the lumber muscles and perform specific lumbarexercises in an upright position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects, advantages, and features of the invention will becomeapparent by reference to the drawings which are appended hereto, andwherein by way of illustration, and not limitation, implementations ofthe invention are described, of which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a frontal view of a preferred implementation of theexercise machine while not in operation for stretching and strengtheningthe lumbar muscles of the lower back;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the exercise machine of FIG. 1 whilein operation with the user's pelvic region securely bound to the supportstructure with a single restraint strap; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of an alternative preferredimplementation of the exercise machine of FIGS. 1 and 2 while inoperation and with the addition of a user-controlled actuator thattightens or loosens the restraint of the user's pelvic region.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

As generally shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a preferred implementation of theinvention is a user-controlled, power-actuated machine 10 which limitsor restrains movement of the pelvis. Machine 10 comprises a verticalsupport structure 20 having a vertical contact area 22 disposed thereonwhich is arranged and designed to receive a user's pelvic region whenthe user stands upright adjacent to the vertical contact area 22. Themachine 10 uses a single restraint strap 12 which wraps around theuser's pelvic region and connects to the vertical support structure 20.The user adjusts the vertical height of the single restraint strap 12either manually or by controlling a powered actuator 16. The userremoves any slack in the single restraint strap 12 by tightening strap12 using a manually-operated mechanism 11 or a user-controlled poweredactuator 26 (FIG. 3). This draws the user's pelvic region tightlyagainst the vertical contact area 22 of support structure 20 and freesthe user to perform upper body and midsection stretching andconditioning exercises. The user may face forward (as shown in FIG. 1),backward (not shown), or sideways (not shown) relative to the verticalcontact area 22 of support structure 20 while operating the machine 10in order to varyingly exercise the torso, and particularly the lumbarmuscles of the lower back.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the single restraint strap 12 comprises twosections 15, 17. An end portion of one section 15 of strap 12 isconnected to the vertical support structure 20 at connection point 14.The other section 17 of strap 12 has an end portion that is connected tothe opposite side of the support structure 20 at an analogous connectionpoint (not shown). Alternatively, the two strap sections 15, 17 mayshare a common connection point (not shown) positioned on supportstructure 20. Preferably, the free end portion of strap 15 (i.e., theend portion not connection to the support structure 20) has a buckle,clasp, hook and loop fastener, or other connection device 11 whichcouples with a cooperative device 13 attached to the free end portion ofstrap 17, such that the two sections 15, 17 of single restraint strap 12form a loop with the support structure 20. The sections 15, 17 of thesingle restraint strap 12 are arranged and designed to be of sufficientlength to couple about the user's waist or midsection (i.e., have acircumference with the support structure 20 larger than the user's waistor midsection). Preferably, the buckle, clasp, hook and loop fastener,or other connection device 11 is arranged and designed with a mechanismto remove any slack in the single restraint strap 12 (e.g., as with acar seat buckle) and thereby firmly restrain the user's pelvic regionagainst the support structure during use. While the sections 15, 17 ofsingle restraint strap 12 are each shown in FIG. 1 as having somelength, alternative implementations may have one of the sections 15, 17of little to no length such that the buckle, clasp, hook and loopfastener, or other connection device 11 (or a cooperative device 13therewith) are effectively a part of the support structure 20.

In a preferred implementation, as shown in FIG. 1, the sections 15, 17of the single restraint strap are arranged and designed to couple nearthe center of the user's back when in operation. This permits thesections 15, 17 of single restraint strap 12 to be connected during useand any slack removed without unduly twisting or rotating the user. Italso permits the user to enter and exist the machine 10 without havingto detach an end portion of strap 12 from its respective connectionpoint 14 on support structure 20. In another preferred implementation(FIG. 3), the single restraint strap 12 is constructed as a continuingmember without sections and has the end portion un-releasably attachedto one side of the support structure 20. The free end portion of strap12 may be connected to the opposite side of the support structure 20using a buckle, clasp, hook and loop fastener or other connection device31 (and a cooperative device 33 therewith). More preferably, the lengthof the strap 12 is adjustable after connection using a hook and loopfastener disposed on the free end portion of the strap 12. Padding 18may also be affixed to the single restraint strap 12 (i.e., one or bothsections 15, 17 thereof) where the strap contacts the user to ensurethat the strap 12 does not constrict or cause discomfort to the userwhile in operation. Similarly, the vertical contact area 22 of supportstructure 20 may be padded to ensure that the support structure 20 doesnot cause any discomfort to the user when the user's pelvic regionbecomes restrained thereagainst during operation.

The height of the strap connection point 14 on the support structure 20is adjustable so that the single restraint strap 12 may be positionedhigh or low about the user's pelvic region while maintaining the supportstrap 12 perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to the user while themachine 10 is in operation. The vertical height of the strap connectionpoint 14 to the support structure 20 is preferably adjusted using auser-controlled, powered actuator 16; however, the height of the strapconnection point 14 could easily be adjusted manually in any knownmanner. As shown in FIG. 1, the support structure actuator 16 adjuststhe vertical height of the strap connection point 14 by raising thatportion of the support structure 20 (i.e., vertical bars 19, 24 orsimilar rigid members) so that the strap 12 properly contacts the user'spelvic region during operation. Actuators and other powered drivemechanisms which move and manipulate physical objects relative to eachother are well known in the art and thus will not be discussed at lengthherein. Likewise, control interfaces for actuators and similarmechanisms, which are operable by the user, are also well known in theart and include, but are not limited to, remote controlled devices, hardwired devices, wireless devices and voice command systems. In oneimplementation of the invention, the control interface (not shown) forthe actuator 16 is a push button control panel with a button thatcontrols actuator 16 to raise the vertical height of the strapconnection point 14 and another button that controls actuator 16 tolower the vertical height of the strap connection point 14.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the strap connection point 14 isdisposed on a vertical bar 24 of support structure 20. The strapconnection point disposed on the opposite side of the support structure(not shown) is similarly disposed on a vertical bar 19 (FIG. 1) of thesupport structure 20. For illustration purposes, the strap connectionpoint 14 is shown as being disposed on a vertical bar 24 but mayactually be disposed on any rigid member of support structure 20. In analternative preferred implementation, and as shown in FIG. 3, thevertical bar 24, or a similar rigid member, is arranged and designed tomove horizontally, relative to the vertical support structure, toward oraway from a user operating the machine 10. When strap 12 is coupledaround the user and connected to the vertical bar 24, movement of thebar 24 away from the user tightens the strap about the user and forcesthe user's pelvic region to become increasingly restrained against thevertical contact area 22 of support structure 20. Conversely, movementof the bar 24 toward the user loosens the strap about the user andreduces the restraint of the user's pelvic region against the verticalcontact area 22 of support structure 20. A strap actuator 26 or similarpowered mechanism is connected between the vertical bar 24 and thesupport structure 20 to provide horizontal movement to the vertical bar24. Preferably, the rigid members (e.g., the vertical bars 19, 24) towhich the end portions of strap 12 are connected to on both sides of thesupport structure 20 are physically connected to each other such thatmovement of the strap actuator 26 simultaneously moves both rigidmembers 19, 24 in unison, and therefore both end portions of strap 12.In this way, the user is tightly restrained against the supportstructure 20 by an equal force applied to both end portions of strap 12and rotational or radial movement of the user is mitigated.

Preferably, the user controls the operation of strap actuator 26 whileusing the machine 10. In one implementation of the invention, thecontrol interface (not shown) for the strap actuator 26 is a push buttoncontrol panel with a button that controls actuator 26 to increase thetautness of the strap 12 about the user and the support structure 20, asdescribed, and another button that controls actuator 26 to decrease thetautness of the strap 12 about the user and the support structure 20.Therefore, when the user is positioned upright, against vertical contactarea 22, and within the loop formed by the strap 12 and the supportstructure 20, activating the button to increase the tautness of thestrap 12 draws the user's pelvis toward the support structure 20,effectively binding the user's pelvis to the support structure 20.Conversely, when the button is activated to decrease the tautness of thestrap 12, the user's pelvis becomes unbound from the support structure20.

In an alternative implementation, the single restraint strap 12 does nothave a buckle, clasp, hook and loop fastener, or other connection device11 which couples the sections 15, 17 of the single restraint strap 12together at a location between connection point of the strap 12 to thetwo opposing sides of support structure 20. Instead, the singlerestraint strap 20 is constructed as a continuous member withoutsections and has its two end portions attachable to the two sides of thesupport structure 20 (as shown in FIG. 3), or alternatively, to a singlepoint (not shown) on the support structure 20. At least one end portionof the strap 12 is preferably connected through a user controlled,power-actuated drive mechanism (not shown) disposed at a strapconnection point 14, which controls slack in the strap 12. Operation ofthe actuator (not shown) tightens or loosens the strap disposed aboutthe user by increasing or decreasing, respectively, the length of thestrap relative to the drive mechanism (not shown). In other words, thedrive mechanism “pulls” the strap 12 therethrough toward the supportstructure 20 or “pushes” the strap therethrough away from the supportstructure 20.

As disclosed, the user easily controls, either manually or through apowered actuator 26, the degree to which the user's pelvic region isrestrained against support structure 20. Binding the user's pelvisand/or pelvic region to the support structure 20 with the singlerestraint strap 12 isolates the lumbar muscles and permits the user toconduct specific lumbar muscle conditioning and strengthening exercises.Such exercises may include, but are not limited to, rotating and bendingthe torso about the immobilized pelvic region while in an uprightstanding position. The user may also perform the exercises, while facingforward, backward, or sideways relative to the support structure 20.Further still, the user can quickly adjust the vertical height at whichthe strap 12 is connected to the support structure 20 with the actuatorcontrol (not shown), thereby adjusting up or down the position of thestrap 12 about the user's pelvic region in order to vary the targetedarea to be exercised. A safety cord 30 or similar safety device (FIG.2), coupled to the support structure 20 and preferably constructed of anelastic/resilient material, is provided which fits underneath the user'sarms and across the user's back to ensure that the user does not slideout of the single restraint strap 12 or otherwise become detached fromthe machine 10 while performing lumbar muscle conditioning andstrengthening exercises. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3, a strap 40,line, cord, rope, chain, or similar device is connected to a weightstack 44 through a series of sheaves or pulleys 42 disposed on supportstructure 20. The strap 40 preferably has a loop which fits around theuser's torso (e.g., under the user's arms and across the user's back),however, other attachment mechanisms may be used. The strap 40 connectedto weight stack 44 provides additional upper body resistance to the userwhile exercising.

In a preferred method of the invention, the user stands upright in frontof the support structure 20 and couples the uncoupled single restraintstrap 12 (e.g., couples the two sections 15, 17 of strap 12) around thepelvic area and to the support structure 20. The user next adjusts thevertical height of the strap connection point 14 and thus the strap 12by pressing the appropriate control button (not shown) to raise or lowerthe strap using actuator 16. The user controls the actuator 16 until thestrap 12 is raised to the desired height in comparison to the user'spelvic region. With the strap 12 wrapped around the user perpendicularlyto the support structure 20, the user then removes any slack in thestrap 12 either by tightening strap 12 using the mechanism of connectiondevice 11 or by operating strap actuator 26 thereby drawing the user'spelvis toward the support structure 20.

Once the user's pelvis is secured to the support structure 20, the userplaces the safety cord 30, strap, or similar device underneath theuser's arms and across the user's back to ensure that the user does notslide out of the single restraint strap 12 or otherwise become detachedfrom the machine 10 while performing lumbar muscle conditioning andstrengthening exercises. Alternatively, the user disposes strap 40(connected to weight stack 44) around her torso in order to provideadditional upper body weighted resistance while exercising. The user maythen perform stretching and conditioning exercises by bending and/orrotating the upper body about the restrained pelvis region. If thesingle restraint strap 12 is or becomes too tight about the user'smidsection, the user may at any time loosen the strap 12 using themechanism of connection device 11 or by operating strap actuator 26.Conversely, if the single restraint strap 12 is or become too loosewhile performing the lumbar conditioning and strengthening exercises,then the user may at any time tighten strap 12 by using connectiondevice 11 or by operating strap actuator 26. After the user has fullyexercised the isolated lumbar muscles, the user simply loosens thesingle restraint strap 12 by using the mechanism of connection device 11or by operating strap actuator 26. The user then unhooks, uncouples, orsimilarly unfastens the strap 12 to be released from the machine 10. Theadvantages of this machine 10 over prior art devices include, but arenot limited to, its ease of use, its versatility and its ability tochange the area or position to be exercised quickly with minimal effort.

The Abstract of the disclosure is written solely for providing theUnited States Patent and Trademark Office and the public at large with ameans by which to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the natureand gist of the technical disclosure, and it represents oneimplementation of the invention and is not indicative of the nature ofthe invention as a whole.

While some embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in detail,the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown; modifications andadaptations of the above embodiment may occur to those skilled in theart. Such modifications and adaptations are in the spirit and scope ofthe invention as set forth herein:

1. An exercise machine (10) for stretching the human body comprising, avertical support structure (20) arranged and designed with a verticalcontact area (22) to receive a user's pelvic region thereagainst when auser stands upright adjacent to said support structure, said verticalcontact area having two vertical sides; a single restraint strap (12)having two end portions with one end portion un-releasably connected toa moveably disposed first member (19) of said support structurepositioned adjacent to one vertical side of said vertical contact areaand with another end portion un-releasably connected to a moveablydisposed second member (24) of said support structure positionedadjacent to another vertical side of said vertical contact area, saidsingle restraint strap comprising two sections (15, 17) which coupleusing a coupling mechanism (11, 13) at a position along said strapbetween said first and second members; said two sections of said singlerestraint strap being arranged and designed to couple around a user'spelvic region when a user stands upright adjacent to said supportstructure; and a support structure actuator (16) connected adjacent tosaid first and second members and arranged and designed to adjust avertical height of said first and second members of said supportstructure by vertically moving said first and second members, saidvertical movement of said first and second members also verticallymoving said single restraint strap relative to said support structureand to a user when a user stands upright adjacent thereto by moving thetwo end portions of said single restraint strap; whereby, when a userstands upright adjacent to said vertical contact area of said supportstructure and couples said two sections of said single restraint straparound said user's pelvic region, said user's pelvic region isrestrained against said vertical contact area of said support structureby said single restraint strap at said vertical height adjusted by saidsupport structure actuator.
 2. The machine of claim 1 furthercomprising, a strap actuator (26) connected adjacent to said first andsecond members and arranged and designed to horizontally move said firstand second members of said support structure; said horizontal movementof said first and second members also horizontally moving said two endportions of said single restraint strap relative to a user when a useris standing upright adjacent to said support structure; whereby, when auser stands upright adjacent to said vertical contact area of saidsupport structure and couples said two sections of said single restraintstrap around said user's pelvic region, said user's pelvic region istightly restrained against said vertical contact area when said firstand second members are moved horizontally away from said user.
 3. Themachine of claim 2 wherein, said first and second members are adjacentlyconnected to each other.
 4. The machine of claim 2 wherein, said strapactuator is arranged and designed to be controlled by a user of saidmachine.
 5. The machine of claim 1 wherein, said first and secondmembers are adjacently connected to each other.
 6. The machine of claim1 further comprising, a weight bearing arrangement comprising a strap(40), a sheave (42), and a weight (44), said strap arranged and designedto be disposed about a user's torso and to connect to said weightthrough said sheave positioned on said support structure above saidvertical contact area such that weighted resistance is applied to saiduser's torso.
 7. The machine of claim 1 further comprising, a safetycord having two end portions, said first end portion being coupled tosaid support structure above said vertical contact area and said secondend portion arranged and designed to be disposed about a user's torso.8. The machine of claim 1 wherein, said support structure actuator isarranged and designed to be controlled by a user of said machine.
 9. Themachine of claim 1 wherein, said coupling mechanism comprises a hook andloop fastener.
 10. An exercise machine (10) for stretching the humanbody comprising, a vertical support structure (20) arranged and designedwith a vertical contact area (22) to receive a user's pelvic regionthereagainst when a user stands upright adjacent to said supportstructure, said vertical contact area having two vertical sides; asingle restraint strap (12) having two end portions with one end portionun-releasably connected to a moveably disposed first member (19) of saidsupport structure positioned adjacent to one vertical side of saidvertical contact area and with another end portion releasablyconnectable to a moveably disposed second member (24) of said supportstructure positioned adjacent to another vertical side of said verticalcontact area; said single restraint strap being arranged and designed tobe disposed around a user's pelvic region when a user stands uprightadjacent to said support structure; and a support structure actuator(16) connected adjacent to said first and second members and arrangedand designed to adjust a vertical height of said first and secondmembers of said support structure by vertically moving said first andsecond members, said vertical movement of said first and second membersalso vertically moving said single restraint strap relative to saidsupport structure and to a user when a user stands upright adjacentthereto by moving the two connected end portions of said singlerestraint strap; whereby, when a user stands upright adjacent to saidvertical contact area of said support structure and connects saidreleasably connectable end portion of said single restraint strap aroundsaid user's pelvic region and to said second member, said user's pelvicregion is restrained against said vertical contact area of said supportstructure by said single restraint strap at said vertical heightadjusted by said support structure actuator.
 11. The machine of claim 10further comprising, a strap actuator (26) connected adjacent to saidfirst and second members and arranged and designed to horizontally movesaid first and second members of said support structure; said horizontalmovement of said first and second members also horizontally moving saidtwo end portions of said single restraint strap relative to a user whena user stands upright adjacent to said support structure; whereby, whena user stands upright adjacent to said vertical contact area of saidsupport structure and connects said releasably connectable end portionof said single restraint strap around said user's pelvic region and tosaid second member, said user's pelvic region is tightly restrainedagainst said vertical contact area when said first and second membersare moved horizontally away from said user.
 12. The machine of claim 11wherein, said first and second members are adjacently connected to eachother.
 13. The machine of claim 11 wherein, said strap actuator isarranged and designed to be controlled by a user of said machine. 14.The machine of claim 10 wherein, said first and second members areadjacently connected to each other.
 15. The machine of claim 10 furthercomprising, a weight bearing arrangement comprising a strap (40), asheave (42), and a weight (44), said strap arranged and designed to bedisposed about a user's torso and to connect to said weight through saidsheave positioned on said support structure above said vertical contactarea such that weighted resistance is applied to said user's torso. 16.The machine of claim 10 further comprising, a safety cord having two endportions, said first end portion being coupled to said support structureabove said vertical contact area and said second end portion arrangedand designed to be disposed about a user's torso.
 17. The machine ofclaim 10 wherein, said support structure actuator is arranged anddesigned to be controlled by a user of said machine.
 18. The machine ofclaim 10 wherein, said releasably connectable end portion of said singlerestraint strap connects to said moveably disposed second member of saidsupport structure using a hook and loop fastener.
 19. An exercise methodfor stretching the human body comprising the steps of, standing a userupright adjacent to a vertical contact area (22) of a vertical supportstructure (20), said vertical contact area arranged and designed toreceive a user's pelvic region and having two vertical sides; disposinga single restraining strap (12) around said user's pelvic region, saidsingle restraining strap having two end portions; releasably connectingsaid first end portion to a moveably disposed first member (24) of saidsupport structure positioned adjacent to one vertical side of saidvertical contact area, said second end portion being un-releasablyconnected to a moveably disposed second member (19) of said supportstructure positioned adjacent to another vertical side of said verticalcontact area; controlling a support structure actuator (16) connectedadjacent to said first and second members to vertically move said singlerestraint strap to a desired vertical height relative to said user; andcontrolling a support structure actuator (26) connected adjacent to saidfirst and second members to horizontally move said first and secondmembers and said first and second end portions connected thereto awayfrom said user, thereby tightly restraining said user's pelvic regionagainst said vertical contact area at said desired vertical height. 20.The exercise method of claim 19 wherein, said controlling steps areperformed by said user while using said machine.